News

Newport M4 slip road closure causes delays

RESIDENTS and traders say the closure of a slip road has caused traffic chaos in the city.

People in St Julians say traffic is backing up along Caerleon Road after the link from the roundabout for M4 junction 25 to Grove Park Roundabout was shut a week ago.

Welsh Government officials say the closure was sparked by damage to a bridge joint spotted on June 22, but were unable to say when it may reopen.

A councillor in the ward claimed no one was told why the road was shut.

The road is normally used to reach either the town centre, Cwmbran or to go west on the M4 via Malpas – but instead drivers are heading into the city and Malpas via Caerleon Road.

St Julians resident Paul Thomas said to avoid waiting in the traffic motorists were using Orchard Street and Durham Road, where he lives.

He said: "It's bedlam. A friend of mine came from Caerleon to catch a class at Newport Centre and it took her 40 minutes to get there."

Katie Maguire, of Caerleon Road, said drivers haven't allowed her to turn out of her own house, while Darren Thomas of GT Barbers on the same street, said it's taking him half an hour to 40 minutes
to get on the motorway.

"I would have thought it's going to affect my business because people are will avoid the area," he said.

Ken Bullock, newsagent on Caerleon Road, said he knew of commuters having to leave an extra 20-30 minutes early or face getting stuck in a queue.

Liberal Democrat councillor Ed Townsend, for St Julians, said he was outraged: "I understand there's a problem with the road and they have to fix it, but what they have done is simply close it
without telling anybody.

"That has left the town in complete chaos and that is unacceptable."

A WELSH Government spokeswoman was unable to say when the road would reopen while workers conduct assessments on the repairs required.

She said damage to a bridge joint in a lane of the westbound link road over the Usk was spotted on June 22 which carries the slip road from Junction 25a to Grove Park Roundabout and would be a
hazard to motorists, especially motorcyclists.

As a result the lane was closed while the link road between Junction 25 and Grove Park was shut as well to avoid "conflict" with traffic leaving the M4.

The South Wales Trunk Road Agent is currently assessing the work required to repair the bridge joint and would keep emergency services and Newport council informed of works to replace the damaged
joint, and information would be made available via Traffic Wales.

She added: "We would ask travellers of this route to take these works into consideration and plan their journeys accordingly."

Left hand doesn't know what the right is doing.
Utter contempt for people trying to get to work and drive around the city.
Traffic backing up from Clarence Place towards Caerleon. Cars, lorries and buses, belching fumes.
No notice, until today, as to why the junction is closed.
People told repairs are being done. but they're not. No work has been undertaken in 10 days.
Newport Council knew nothing about the closure of a major traffic route in its own authority. What a ludicrous state of affairs.

Left hand doesn't know what the right is doing.
Utter contempt for people trying to get to work and drive around the city.
Traffic backing up from Clarence Place towards Caerleon. Cars, lorries and buses, belching fumes.
No notice, until today, as to why the junction is closed.
People told repairs are being done. but they're not. No work has been undertaken in 10 days.
Newport Council knew nothing about the closure of a major traffic route in its own authority. What a ludicrous state of affairs.james jackson

I think the obvious answer is to take the motorway traffic off at the junction before which leads up to caerleon rd roundabout. Then all traffic could use the slip road as it is the right hand lane on the slip road that needs reapairing, left hand lane is open.
I think it is discussing that the council think that it acceptible for a major route into the city is closed for so long without making a statement and no obvious works being undertaken. The authority should be ashamed that commuters are having to sit in unneccessary traffic throughout the day.

I think the obvious answer is to take the motorway traffic off at the junction before which leads up to caerleon rd roundabout. Then all traffic could use the slip road as it is the right hand lane on the slip road that needs reapairing, left hand lane is open.
I think it is discussing that the council think that it acceptible for a major route into the city is closed for so long without making a statement and no obvious works being undertaken. The authority should be ashamed that commuters are having to sit in unneccessary traffic throughout the day.nickky

Is it just coincidence that this junction is shut only weeks before the announcement of the ‘winner’ of the M4 improvement proposals – one of which would involve the closure of this junction? Newport City Council’s quiet response to this chaos has led many of us to think that this is a precursor to the widening option being selected. Come on NCC, grow some balls and start being straight with the citizens of Newport.

Is it just coincidence that this junction is shut only weeks before the announcement of the ‘winner’ of the M4 improvement proposals – one of which would involve the closure of this junction? Newport City Council’s quiet response to this chaos has led many of us to think that this is a precursor to the widening option being selected. Come on NCC, grow some balls and start being straight with the citizens of Newport.St Julians Mum

It's not the exit from the M4 that's affected....but the slip road from Caerleon Road for traffic that would normally avoid coming through Clarence Place....as they would either go via Malpas Road to the M4...those travelling to Cardiff or continuing along the A4042 directly to Kingsway.

It's not the exit from the M4 that's affected....but the slip road from Caerleon Road for traffic that would normally avoid coming through Clarence Place....as they would either go via Malpas Road to the M4...those travelling to Cardiff or continuing along the A4042 directly to Kingsway.Dave on his Soapbox

I realise this Dave, but both the junction and slip road to Heidenheim Drive will be closed during the widening if this is the option that is selected. Also the appearance of traffic counting equipment (sorry don't know the technical term) near Clarence Place has added to the rumours here in St Julians. It is not just Newport city centre that is being affected, it's Caerleon, Ponthir and Llanfrechfa as traffic tries to get to Cwmbran and beyond.

I realise this Dave, but both the junction and slip road to Heidenheim Drive will be closed during the widening if this is the option that is selected. Also the appearance of traffic counting equipment (sorry don't know the technical term) near Clarence Place has added to the rumours here in St Julians. It is not just Newport city centre that is being affected, it's Caerleon, Ponthir and Llanfrechfa as traffic tries to get to Cwmbran and beyond.St Julians Mum

St Julians mum I wasn't commenting on your post about the long term options for the M4. but Clarence Place

While the daily debacle at Clarence Place has been further exacerbated by the closure of the Caerleon Road slip road onto the A4042, due to some engineering issue, the normal daily problem is caused by the failed central government/WAG funded Bus Lane initiative, that was supposedly going to make bus journeys much speedier and make the private motorists journey so irksome that they would opt to go by bus.

But surprise, surprise, due to high bus fares, increased daily travel time, general inconvenience of waiting at bus stops in the rain etc. this has done little to increase bus usage (that could be attributed to this particular scheme), so it’s time to do away with it.

St Julians mum I wasn't commenting on your post about the long term options for the M4. but Clarence Place
While the daily debacle at Clarence Place has been further exacerbated by the closure of the Caerleon Road slip road onto the A4042, due to some engineering issue, the normal daily problem is caused by the failed central government/WAG funded Bus Lane initiative, that was supposedly going to make bus journeys much speedier and make the private motorists journey so irksome that they would opt to go by bus.
But surprise, surprise, due to high bus fares, increased daily travel time, general inconvenience of waiting at bus stops in the rain etc. this has done little to increase bus usage (that could be attributed to this particular scheme), so it’s time to do away with it.Dave on his Soapbox